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City · 43,196 residents · Blair County, Pennsylvania

Altoona , Pennsylvania

In Altoona, a typical home is worth $119,900 and typical rent is $819 a month. Compared with all of Blair County, the typical home value is 26% lower, typical household income is 18% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $119,900

    26% below the county

    53% below Pennsylvania

    • Altoona
    • Blair
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical rent

    $819a month

    7% below the county

    32% below Pennsylvania

    • Altoona
    • Blair
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical household income

    $51,250a year

    18% below the county

    34% below Pennsylvania

    • Altoona
    • Blair
    • Pennsylvania

  • Households that own their home

    64%

    8 points below the county

    5 points below Pennsylvania

    • Altoona
    • Blair
    • Pennsylvania

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$140,228
5.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,033 a month
9.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Altoona is in Blair County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Blair County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Altoona apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Johnstown, the typical home value is $45,400: 62% less than in Altoona ($119,900).

  2. Nearby, in Johnstown, the typical rent is $644: 21% less than in Altoona ($819).

  3. The typical home in Altoona is worth $119,900, 26% less than in Blair County as a whole ($161,100).

  4. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Altoona rose 5.6%; in Pennsylvania, it rose 2.2%.

  5. The typical household income in Altoona is $51,250, 18% less than in Blair County as a whole ($62,382).

  6. 64% of households in Altoona own their home, against 72% in Blair County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Altoona

What homes there are in Altoona, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is the most common home in Altoona: 69% of homes, near the figure in Blair County (71%).

Year built

In Altoona, half of the homes were built before 1944; in Blair County, before 1957.

By size, homes in Altoona look like those in Blair County: 61% have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 99% of owner-occupied homes in Altoona are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Blair County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Altoona cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,151): about 75%.

With a mortgage

$1,086 a month

Blair County: $1,253 a month

Without a mortgage

$472 a month

Blair County: $509 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Blair County: 53%

In Altoona, 56% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,086 a month, against $1,253 in Blair County. Without one it drops to $472.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Altoona rose 36%; in Blair County, it rose 30%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Altoona rose 18%, less than in Blair County (23%).

While home values in Altoona changed +36% and rent +18%, the typical household income rose 24%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureAltoonaBlair CountyPennsylvaniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.4%6.8%4.9%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.1%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate0.7%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.242.322.392.53
Drive alone 77%80%68%69%
Carpool 10%9%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%4%3%
Walk or bike 4%3%4%3%
Work from home 7%7%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Altoona look like those in Blair County: the rental vacancy rate is 7.4%.

A household in Altoona has 2.24 people on average, about the same as in Blair County (2.32).

In Altoona, 77% of workers drive alone to work; in Blair County, 80%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Altoona?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Altoona, worth $119,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 24% of the typical household income in Altoona, which is $51,250 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Blair County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Altoona. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,197 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,014

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$117,728
Total interest
$169,383
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,025 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,196 a month

    Your payment · 24%

  • Tight

    $1,196 to $1,537 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,537 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Altoona ($51,250 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,014
Principal & interest$798
Property tax$114
Home insurance$50
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$53

You need at least $4,197 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Altoona and Blair County

Altoona is in Blair County, Pennsylvania. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Altoona's own numbers

Typical home value
$119,900
Typical monthly rent
$819
Typical yearly household income
$51,250
Households that own their home
64%
Effective property tax rate
1.14%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Blair County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,151
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+36%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Blair County.

Everything about Blair County

Buying

Buying a home in Altoona

A typical home in Altoona is worth $119,900: 26% below the county and 53% below Pennsylvania. With the typical household income in Altoona ($51,250 a year), a typical home costs 2.3 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Altoona 2.3 years
  • Blair 2.6 years
  • Pennsylvania 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Blair County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Blair County rose 53% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Blair County.

Period County Pennsylvania U.S.
Last year (2025) +7.7% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +36% +48% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +53% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Altoona next to Blair County, Pennsylvania and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Altoona $119,900
  • Blair $161,100
  • Pennsylvania $254,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Altoona $819
  • Blair $885
  • Pennsylvania $1,209
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Altoona $51,250
  • Blair $62,382
  • Pennsylvania $77,971
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Altoona next to Blair County and Pennsylvania
Measure Altoona Blair County Pennsylvania U.S.
Typical home value $119,900 $161,100 $254,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $819 $885 $1,209 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $51,250 $62,382 $77,971 $80,734
Households that own their home 64% 72% 69% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,369 $1,724 $3,311 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.14% 1.07% 1.3% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 46% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Blair County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Altoona

For a typical $119,900 home in Altoona, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Altoona's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,014a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,197
    Cash to close
    $7,794
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $53

  • Conventional, 5% down $992a month

    Down payment
    $5,995
    Cash to close
    $9,592
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $57

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $814a month

    Down payment
    $23,980
    Cash to close
    $27,577
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $925a month

    Down payment
    $17,985
    Cash to close
    $21,582
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Altoona and for Blair County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Altoona

1.14%of the home’s value each year

$1,369 a year for the typical owner in Altoona.

  • Altoona 1.14%
  • Blair 1.07%
  • Pennsylvania 1.3%

What Pennsylvania publishes Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (PTRR) (Pennsylvania Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Pennsylvania

Flood risk in Blair County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Blair County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
5.1%
2,366
Of those, with NFIP insurance
19%
County Pennsylvania U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 5.1% 2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 19% 23% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Altoona

Typical rent in Altoona is $819 a month: 7% below the county. In Altoona, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Blair County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,151 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.13 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Blair County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $805 $15.48 $32,200
1 bedroom $959 $18.44 $38,360
2 bedrooms $1,151 $22.13 $46,040
3 bedrooms $1,477 $28.40 $59,080
4 bedrooms $1,708 $32.85 $68,320

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Altoona

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Altoona has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,120 in 16602 to $1,130 in 16601.

None is above the fair market rent for Blair County ($1,151).

  • 16601 $1,130$1,450
  • 16602 $1,120$1,440

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Altoona when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Altoona

HUD lists 20 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Altoona. These are the largest.

  • Green Ave Tower 911 Green Ave, Altoona 16601 374 homes, 364 low-income · Run by Altoona Housing Authority · Average payment: $381 a month · Average wait: 4 months (814) 949-2000
  • Logan Hills 1201/1203/1205 South 27th Street, Altoona 16602 212 homes, 150 low-income · For families (814) 944-2551
  • Fairview Hills 220 E Cherry Ave, Altoona 16601 151 homes, 150 low-income · Run by Altoona Housing Authority · Average payment: $451 a month · Average wait: 20 months (814) 949-2000
  • Blair Tower 1600 8th Ave, Altoona 16602 100 low-income homes · For older adults (814) 946-5453
  • Charles E Wolf Apts 1501 11th Ave, Altoona 16601 90 low-income homes · 1 bd: 60 · 2 bd: 30 · In service since 1999

See all 31 buildings in Blair County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Altoona

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Blair County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Altoona

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Altoona or Blair County. The ones below are statewide in Pennsylvania: they work in Altoona the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Pennsylvania

Housing counselors near Altoona

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Altoona, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • The Home Foundation

    226 E Nittany Ave, State College · 35 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (814) 954-4215

  • Pathstone Corporation-Pennsylvania

    450 Cleveland Ave, Chambersburg · 56 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (717) 264-5913

  • Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities

    114 N Hanover St, Carlisle · 67 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (717) 249-0789

All counseling agencies in Pennsylvania

Help in Spanish near Altoona

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Altoona

HUD’s record names them for Altoona or Blair County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Altoona Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (814) 949-2000
  • Housing Authority of the County of Blair Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (814) 695-7548

All housing agencies in Pennsylvania Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Blair County

These cities are also in Blair County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Blair County Housing in Pennsylvania

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Altoona, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Blair County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Altoona.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Altoona

Short answers with the numbers for Altoona and all of Blair County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Altoona?

The typical home value in Altoona is $119,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Blair County it is $161,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Altoona?

Typical rent in Altoona is $819 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Blair County is $1,151.

What is the FHA loan limit in Altoona?

Altoona uses the FHA limit for all of Blair County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Altoona?

The typical homeowner in Altoona pays $1,369 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.14% of the home’s value; in Blair County, the rate is 1.07%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Altoona?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Blair County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).